Won’t act against Majithia until I can ensure conviction: Capt

STF REPORT NAMING THE AKALI LEADER BEING EXAMINED; CM SAYS BIG FISH HAVE RUN AWAY FROM THE COUNTRY AND WILL BE NABBED SOON

CHANDIGARH : More than three months after a special task force (STF) headed by ADGP Harpreet Sidhu handed over its report on the role of former Akali Dal minister Bikram Singh Majithia to the Punjab and Haryana high court, the Captain Amarinder Singh government has still to inform the court about the action taken by it.

Punjab advocate general Atul Nanda had sought three weeks time from the court on March 15, saying a two-member committee was examining it. In the report, the STF had said the role of Majithia in the infamous Bhola drug scandal needs to be probed.

When asked about the fate of the report, Amarinder said he will not take any action against Majithia till he can ensure a conviction.

“I will not take any action against Majithia or anyone till there was sufficient evidence against them of involvement in drug trade. The matter is being examined by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the high court is overseeing it,” he said at a press conference.

He was flanked by local government minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had flashed the report to the media during the March budget session at a press briefing. Amarinder lauded the work of the STF saying it was doing a great job, having already apprehended over 15,000 drug peddlers.

“The big fish had run away from the country and would also be nabbed soon. One big dealer had been arrested by the Hong Kong police and the Punjab government would be seeking his extradition.”

‘SIDHU MY SON, HAS MY TOTAL SUPPORT’

To a question on his government’s affidavit in the Supreme Court in a road rage case against Sidhu, the chief minister said they could not have backtracked from the stand taken earlier in the high court.

“Sidhu is like my son and has my total support. I hope that the court would take into account his great contribution to the country while deciding his case,” Amarinder said.

SHAHKOT AKALI LEADERS JOIN CONG

Former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal made her first public appearance with the CM after losing the election to announce the joining of Akali leaders from Shahkot.

The CM welcomed SAD general secretary Ravinder Singh Turna and former president, NRI Sabha, Punjab, Jasbir Singh Gill, into the Congress and said many SAD workers were feeling suffocated and disillusioned due to the “autocratic functioning and apathy” of the top Akali leadership.